Could happiness become a habit?

Building simple practices into your daily life can boost your physical and mental wellbeing, says Dr Alex George

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What if feeling happy, confident and calm was something you could learn, like riding a bike? Well, Dr Alex George, a former NHS A&E doctor who was appointed the UK Youth Mental Health Ambassador in 2021, believes it is possible, and he has laid out the easy steps to happiness in his new book Happy Habits.

The small, achievable daily practices - such as connecting with nature, finding moments of joy in the ordinary and managing your digital use - will help you thrive both emotionally and physically. And while the book pays particular attention to helping young people without having strict rules or suggesting unrealistic routines, it is aimed at all ages.

A 2024 NSPCC survey showed that 47% of parents of 12-17 year olds and 56% of parents of 6-11 year olds were worried about their children’s mental health, which goes to show how vital it is for both children and adults to learn how to increase moments of joy and happiness in their everyday lives.